11 February 2006

Woman Carrying Human Skull Arrested At Airport

A woman was charged with smuggling after federal security screeners found a human skull in her luggage at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport late Thursday. The woman had flown in from Cap Haitien, Haiti. Her bag was being searched at the U.S. Customs counter when the grisly discovery was made. Agents said she did not disclose the skull -- complete with teeth and hair -- was in the luggage. Myrlene Severe, a Haitian-born permanent U.S. resident, said the skull -- a male's -- was to be used in rites as part of her Voodoo beliefs. She also said she bought the skull in the belief the head would ward off evil spirits.

A U.S. Customs storage room at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport where confiscated skulls smuggled in from Haiti are processed (photo via John Hawks)